Carnuntum in Roman times

Carnuntum throughout the millenia

Initially a temporary winter camp, Carnuntum grew between the 1st and 4th century AD into a city of about 50,000 and became the capital of the Roman province of Pannonia Superior. Besides the legionary fortress and the military city surrounding it, a flourishing civilian city (municipium) also formed outside the military zone.

The limes, the northern border of the Roman Empire, was marked in Carnuntum by the Danube. Carnuntum developed into a significant Roman city thanks to its militarily vital location for securing the border of the empire but also because of its vicinity to key trade routes.

6 AD / Tiberius, who later became emperor, erects a winter camp in the Carnuntum area; beginning of Roman presence in Carnuntum.

41 to 54 AD / The military camp is erected.

from ca. 70 AD / Settlement begins in the civilian city (in the area of the Roman city quarter in Petronell-Carnuntum).

81 to 96 AD / Under Emperor Domitian the auxiliary fort and the amphitheatre in the canabae are established.

Around 124 AD / Under Emperor Hadrian Carnuntum becomes a municipality – Municipium Aelium Karnuntum. At this time the amphitheatre in the civilian city is erected.

171 to 173 AD / Emperor Marcus Aurelius stays in Carnuntum where he completes the second book of his “Meditations”.